Mo’s In His Heaven, All’s Right With the World

Excellent if unsurprising news for Bomber fans, who can sleep a little easier tonight: Mariano Rivera is going to re-up. The Daily News got the scoop:

According to a source familiar with the negotiations between the Yankees and future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera, the 41-year-old will sign a two-year deal believed to be worth $30 million by Friday night. …

… Thursday night, Rivera’s agent Fernando Cuza – who was one of the many guests at Red Sox slugger David Ortiz’s celebrity golf tournament kickoff dinner – had said the Yankees and Rivera’s camp were “a little far apart” on getting a new deal done for Rivera, and that “hopefully we’ll be able to work it out.” But within hours, a deal came together, perhaps expedited because Rivera had recently received a three-year deal and more money (believed to be in the neighborhood of $17 million per year) from another team, according to the source. The source added that Rivera wanted to maintain his ties to the only team he has ever played for, and went with less money and fewer years to continue wearing pinstripes.

I’m curious what that other team was, aren’t you? Jon Heyman’s saying he hears the Angels and Red Sox both offered three years — I have to assume they were trying to drive up the price for the Yankees, rather than seriously expecting Rivera to leave New York, but still, I like the chutzpah. (I say I “have to” assume that because when I try to imagine Mariano running out in an Angels uniform to close out a game against the Yankees, my brain recoils, whimpers, curls itself into the fetal position and refuses to continue).

I never thought that Mo would leave, or that the Yankees would let him, but nevertheless: phew. And the deal seems fair to me. Obviously with any player Rivera’s age, there are concerns — but he hasn’t slipped an inch yet, and this contract isn’t going to be too huge a drag on the Yanks even if he does. Like almost everything else he’s ever done in New York, the negotiations seem to’ve been smooth as silk.

If the Red Sox actually made this "sacrificial offer" to Mo, it was a cute move at best. More like wretchedly petty in my opinion.
Asking Mo to join the Red Sox (knowing full well it would never happen) is akin to the Steinbrenners inviting Carl Yastrzemski to take part in a Yankees Old Timer's game, you know, just in case ol' Yaz ever just wanted to know how it felt to wear a Yankees uniform.
The Red Sox actually embarrassed themselves, if this is true.

[8] Why did they embarrass themselves? Adding Mo, and, more importantly, removing him from the Yankees would strike a major blow and shift the balance of power. So, why not take a shot, even if it was unlikely? With the Yankees' presenting a posture similar to the one the Sox have used to chase their legendary stars away, perhaps the Red Sox thought they could swoop in and benefit.

Now, the question is how much higher does Mo's deal set the bar for Jeter?

[9] it's gamemanship if there's a game to be played. With the Yankees and Mo at this stage of his career - there is no game.
The Yankees didnt need the Red Sox or Angels to force their hand and extend an offer to Mo.
An offer from any other team would carry as much weight in the Yankees' negotiations with Mo, as an invitation to appear on "Dancing With The Stars."
Total non-factors.

[14] I don't think so. Sliced. You're forgetting about two factors here: respect and money. Unfortunately, whether you agree with it or not, people equate respect with money. I know if a company offers me 25% more than what my company pays me then I will leave, and I love working for the company I work for.

If Mo feels that the Yanks aren't showing him the respect he feels he deserves, then why stay? I think players do develop an emotional attachment for the team they played their entire careers for, but if you feel that team is no longer valuing your services as you think they should be valued then you take the better offer. One to send the message and two to make more change. It's always about, "fuck you, pay me".

[15] maybe I'm wrong but I'm under the impression that Mo gets more than enough money and respect from the Yankees. Enough money and respect to render offers from other teams essentially meaningless.

to William's point in [11], perhaps the Yankees had not made themselves clear enough with Mo how valuable he is to the team. Or maybe Mo's agent took a cue from the Jeter negotiations and thought it would be best to come to the Yankee table with bonafide offers from the likes of the Red Sox and Angels to get a deal done. It sickens me to think it would have to come to that.

Either way, we rejoice at the bottomline. Mo's going nowhere except the Hall of Fame, and with some luck, maybe a few more trips through NY's Canyon of Heroes.

[17] yeah, if I'm Cashman I'm definitely interested in talking to Crawford as much as the Red Sox are. He's such a fascinating player this Carl Crawford. Why, we could talk all winter in a one-horse open sleigh, throwing chestnuts on an open fire, sipping cocoa in our snuggies, and all that.

Now, that's gamesmanship.

Making sacrificial offers to Mo is hot stove horsecrap. Right said, Mr. Ed.

[18] We can disagree about it all you want. But if I were the Angels or Red Sox I would have done the same thing. Just like nobody thought Damon would leave the Red Sox in 2006, it doesn't hurt and it doesn't cost you anything. If it forced the Yankess to add another year, I thought their offer was just one year and Mo wanted that second year. So whatever the Red Sox/Angels did it worked, and it worked in Mo's favor.

[20] Exactly...why would you not take a shot at getting Mo if you are Boston? Think about it: you cripple Yanks; get Bard the best mentor you can imagine; trade Papelbon, who is due a big raise and is headed to free agency, which offsets the cost; and take prospects from Papelbon deal and sweeten offer to Arizona for Justin Upton.

[20] the Damon comparison doesn't work on any level.
Damon had been on 3 other teams by the time he signed with the Yankees. He was also, what, 31 years old?
Mo's been on 1 team, and he's, well, his age has proven to be meaningless thus far. You just can't compare the players or their circumstances.

Anyway, what's good for Mo is good for the Yankees. I wouldn't have blinked at a 3 year deal if Mo wanted one.

If the Red Sox and Angels helped increase the length of the deal, (which I don't believe) their gestures were even more foolish than I originally thought.

[21] you don't kick the tires on Mo. That's the thing.
He's the exception. He's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, man!
You look at a fine vintage flying automobile like the great Rivera - but you don't touch. and you certainly do not kick the tires, or even think about changing the license plate.

Blasphemy, William. I'm surprised at you. Allowing Mo's tires to be kicked is regarding Mo like any other used car on the lot.

A lemon like Papelbon. You kick the tires on that, scrape at the rust, inspect the frayed wires, and wonder what it's worth.

by the way, lest you think I'm crazy - I don't really in my mind equate Rivera with a magical flying car from a children's fantasy story.
A pitcher who can secure baseball victories like Rivera does at his level of efficiency, and consistency is far more valuable.

Lots of people have done the math on next year's Yanks payroll including an awesome piece by Jaffe at Prospectus.

I did different plausible numbers myself and like everybody else the Yanks really will hurt financially this year. Even if Lee gets $22/year they have a great chance of setting a new spending record and significantly expanding their losses. Given that every $1 million in salary is now costing the Yankees $1.4 million, I'd say that Boston making sure that Mo gets fully paid by the Yankees is a not just a side venture, it's a critical component of getting RSox competitive next year. It certainly will keep some smaller but import minor league or bench deals from getting done. (if you assume that the actual spending caps the yanks have had in place for the last decade are still in place. Feel free to ignore Hal or any front office official on their "budget." Just don't ignore their balance sheet.